Summary: It's Tabula Rasa, Angel style! A demon from Angel's past temporarily erases the memory of the Angel team so that he can find a way to kill Angel, without him knowing who he really was.
WARNING: low level coarse language (just to be sure)
A/N: For those of you who are wondering what happened to Dennis Perkins and Kirk, the wait is over. They return in this chapter.
Chapter Six: History Never Repeats Upstairs, The Hyperion HotelIn one of the many rooms in the hotel, Dennis Perkins and Kirk waited. Dennis wandered around the room finding little things to do or things to shift. He was a perfectionist.
'Don't you think it's been long enough? They could get their memory back at any moment and the plan will be worthless.' Kirk piped up after an entire day of silence in the room.
'Quiet. I need to hear for movements as a sign that they're awake.' Dennis snapped.
'Oh come on, it's been almost a day; I think they'll be awake. Besides, Angel and Spike will be dust by now unless they've moved out of direct sunlight.' Kirk continued.
'Perhaps. Okay, round up the cavalry; we're going in.'
Lobby, The Hyperion Hotel'Fred, there's one question I have for you first.' Angel spoke quickly before anyone answered Fred's question.
'Yes Angel?'
'Where do we all live? Where do I live?'
'You live in a penthouse in the top of the Wolfram and hart building. Wesley lives in an apartment not far from here and Spike lives in a low-level basement apartment supplied by Lindsey. I don't actually know where you live Gunn, sorry.' Fred explained. There were general nods of understanding all-round.
'Uh Fred, who's Lindsey?' Angel asked.
'You don't remember?'
'Nope, sorry luv.' Spike spoke up.
'How can you not remember Lindsey, of all people?' Fred asked, taken slightly by surprise. 'Lindsey is the one person in the world that you truly hate, and you don't remember him. Angel, come on. What do you remember?'
'Well, I know that my name is Angel and that I work for Wolfram and Hart. I know Spike, Gunn, Lorne, Wesley and you Fred. I know that Spike and I are vampires and that Lorne is a demon.'
'Right then. Why don't we all head back to Wolfram and Hart and we can figure things out there.' Fred suggested.
'Not so fast.' Dennis stood at the top of the stairs. 'Angel.' Angel turned and looked up at the man staring down at them. He recognised the man, and also the man standing next to him.
'Kirk, is it?' He asked.
'What?' Kirk said, exchanging a surprised glance with Dennis. 'You remember me?'
Dennis backhanded Kirk across his face. 'You told me they wouldn't remember!' he scolded.
'Yeah, for 24 hours. You waited too long.' Kirk shot back. They were squabbling like children, but Angel didn't let it throw him off guard.
And then his memory fully returned. Wesley, Gunn, Spike and Lorne had their full memory back and realised everything that was going on.
'Dennis.' Angel challenged. Dennis looked back down at the crowd of Angel inc. on the lobby floor.
'I don't care that you remember who all your friends are now, Angel. I don't care that you remember who I am. All I care about is that you die, and with the help of my friends, you will. Now!' Dennis' call signalled a horde of demons to enter the lobby of the Hyperion, and Angel, Wesley, Gunn, Spike, Lorne and Fred soon found themselves surrounded.
'Fred, You shouldn't be here. First chance you get, run.' Angel ordered.
'Angel, I came here to find you and to help you.' Fred replied.
'We don't need help anymore.'
'Angel, I can't leave you.'
'Fred, it's too dangerous. Just go.' Angel ran forward, fists flying as he attacked the demons that rose against him. Spike, Gunn and Wesley did the same, while Lorne and Fred tried to defend themselves. Gunn then turned his attention to protecting Fred and Lorne, and fought back the demons that came near them.
'Oh God…' Lorne moaned. Then he had an idea of something he'd done back in Pylea to help Angel in battle and also on the streets of Los Angeles. He opened his mouth and began singing a very high, long note.
'Aagh!' Several of the demons cried out in agony. Angel stopped and stepped back. 'Aagh!' more demons cried out.
'Lorne!' Angel yelled. 'Keep going!' He saw Dennis and Kirk atop the stairs trying to cover their ears. He leaped into the air and landed on the railing. He grabbed Dennis and threw him down to the lobby floor. He then grabbed Kirk and threw him down too.
They cried out as they flew to the ground and landed with a thud. Angle jumped back down after them and picked up Dennis by the collar.
Lorne stopped singing his note after Spike and Gun had defeated all the demons, except for Kirk and Dennis. Spike picked up Kirk and stood behind him, holding him tightly around the shoulders and neck.
'You wanna start explaining mate?' Spike asked as he tightened his grip on Kirk. Angel pulled Dennis close to him.
'I'm sorry Dennis, but what were you trying to achieve from this?' he asked. Dennis stared back at him, a trickle of blood escaping from the corner of his mouth. Angel released him and he stepped back.
'I cam here to kill you.' He replied. He vamped out, snarled and bared his teeth at Angel. Angel morphed into his vampire face as well and launched himself at Dennis. They fought for several minutes, exchanging punches, kicks, and blows and eventually tackling each other to the ground.
Dennis ended up on top of Angel. He threw punch after punch, every one connecting with Angel's face. After about half a dozen hits, Angel began to weaken. His vampire face slipped away to reveal his human face, with several cuts and a few bruises forming around the mouth and eyes. A bit of blood trickled out of his nose and he tried desperately to fight Dennis off.
Angel continued to bit hit by Dennis, until he finally managed to get his hands in and grab hold of Dennis' wrists. He tossed Dennis to the floor beside him and rolled the other way.
'Don't go anywhere!' Dennis shouted. As Angel tried to get up, Dennis slid over behind him and held him tightly around the neck. He puled backwards, so Angel's back was resting on his knees. Angel was basically helpless in this position. He couldn't move, he couldn't fight back and he couldn't shake Dennis loose.
Eventually, Spike had to leave Gunn with Kirk and save Angel from Dennis. He came up behind Dennis and grabbed him by the shoulders. Taken be surprise, Dennis let go of Angel. Spike threw Dennis across the lobby and he landed against the stairs. Angel sunk to the floor, coughing.
'You alright Angel?' Spike asked.
'Yeah.' Angel chocked out, rubbing his neck. He got to his feet and headed over to where Dennis' limp body lay at the bottom of the stairs. Without even thinking, Angel picked up Dennis by the collar, and reaching into his own jacket pulled out a stake and forced it into Dennis' chest. Dennis floated to the floor as dust and Angel sighed, breathing heavily.
Following Angel's lead, Gunn plunged a stake into Kirk's chest. He burst into tiny pigments of dust and left Gunn staring at thin air.
'Is it over Angel?' Fred asked from across the room. Angel turned around to face his friends. Spike stood about a metre away from him, with Gunn several metres behind him crouched next to where Kirk was only moments before. Fred was sitting on the floor, with Lorne standing behind her and Wesley standing next to him. Sighing again, Angel replied, 'Yes Fred, it's over. Let's go home.'
As a group, they left the hotel. It was now late afternoon and Angel and Spike had to dash to the car covered by a blanket, but they were safe and alive. Together, they headed back to the Wolfram and Hart offices.
A/N: I don't know, should that be the end of it? Please review and tell me if you want more…
